Chapter Seven: Help!
Occasionally, the young man with gray hair would recall what Qin Qianbai was like when she first arrived in the City of the Vaulted Skies.
He often addressed her as “Young Lady,” believing it a fitting title. It referred not only to her noble family background, but also—at least when they first met—to her unmistakably pronounced attitude of a spoiled heiress.
Qin Qianbai was different then. She suspected everyone who approached her harbored ulterior motives: either coveting her family’s influence or her body. Given her figure at the time, Gongsun Ce thought the former was far more plausible, while the latter was likely just her overactive imagination. She held especially strong prejudices against boys her age, convinced their every move was a ploy to bewilder her, kidnap her, or perpetrate some other unspeakable act, perhaps to erode her defenses with honeyed words.
Back then, she was truly a dreadful Young Lady. Not merely because of her string of self-centered assumptions, but also due to the power she wielded to act upon them: she would attack any boy who spoke to her, anything from a simple throw over her shoulder to jabbing a finger at his eye. Knives were routine, and at times she would even employ the secret arts of the Qin family on ordinary people. She lacked common sense, struck without restraint, spoke with self-righteousness, and was hostile toward the world… Yet, even these were not the worst.
The worst was that she had just awakened her superpowers when she first arrived in the City of the Vaulted Skies.
Like most children newly gifted with superpowers, she was anxious, uneasy, panicked, and volatile. Beneath her expressionless mask seethed only negative emotions; her formidable abilities were prone to rampage. Her surroundings often bore a peculiar distortion, as if she carried with her the aura of a mysterious realm. Anything she touched would become unrecognizable, and those walking beside her were likely to suffer calamity without warning.
She was not only a high-powered Young Lady lacking common sense, but a frenzied, uncontrollable storm of anxiety.
Looking back now, Gongsun Ce believed his endurance through that grueling ordeal was inseparable from his own equally poor mental state—three years ago, he too had just returned from the Kingdom, and his psyche likely fared little better than hers.
Fortunately, people change, especially adolescents in the throes of youth.
After long and patient effort, he had managed to make the Young Lady somewhat less of a Young Lady.
Now, he only rarely recalled her old self.
For instance, when a knife was held to his throat.
Like now.
·
“Stop! Don’t hurt Gongsun Ce!”
The superpower user raised his hands in surrender.
The girl in the ornate dress leapt between them, arms crossed to form a large X. He wished to thank her for her good intentions, but judging from the Young Lady’s blade inching closer, it had only made things worse.
Gongsun Ce swallowed, speaking slowly: “Qin Qianbai, let’s not mention…”
“Let’s not mention you laying your hands on girls.”
It hurt—why did her gaze pierce like ice needles?
Had she secretly mastered some bizarre eye technique?
Braving the bitter chill, he retorted stubbornly, “Let’s not mention your misunderstanding. Do you really believe I, Gongsun Ce, would ever initiate physical contact with a strange woman?”
The first breakthrough was “Trust.”
Misunderstandings are inevitable in the face of shocking scenes. What distinguishes friends from strangers is trust born from memories! The heart that believes is magic, shining like the sun, melting a path to hope through the frigid tundra!
He saw Miss Qin tilt her head, as if recalling their shared past. Yes, that’s it. Shift your gaze away from unhealthy fantasies; remember trust, remember the years of friendship between us!
Gongsun Ce rejoiced inwardly—she clearly remembered her friend’s upright conduct! Behold, the girl straightened her head and looked him in the eye as she spoke!
“Yes.”
The sun fell.
Not a glimmer remained, and he walked alone across a frozen wasteland. So cold—was this the Ice Age?
As if to furnish additional evidence, she said coldly, “When we first met, you did exactly that.”
“That was a special circumstance!!”
The young man with gray hair clutched his head and wailed. The pink-haired girl with twin tails shouted, “You’re too much! Gongsun Ce is a good person!” Meanwhile, Cardecia let out a mischievous laugh as she watched the drama unfold.
Just you wait, Cardecia Spencer—I’ll make sure to get back at you.
The onlookers’ murmurs grew ever more grating; he had to resolve this before his social death became absolute!
He took a deep breath. “All right, Young Lady, let’s put aside the special circumstance…”
“Let’s put aside the facts.”
When trust crumbles, only empirical, rational proof can solve the matter.
The second breakthrough was “Evidence.”
Partial truths seen through the eyes may lead to misunderstanding, but all falsehoods and misapprehensions are shattered before evidence. Logic is the cornerstone of a rational world; deduction uncovers the truth, but only evidence can deliver final judgment!
“You know me. I, Gongsun Ce, have always adhered to proper conduct. If I can help it, I would avoid embarrassing situations like this, right? You can’t deny it!”
“Mm…”
Miss Qin nodded slowly.
Good—logic and reason worked. The premise is that Gongsun Ce is an upright man. The observed result is that he and a scantily clad girl ended up pressed together. What conclusion can be deduced?
The answer is force majeure! Miss Qin surely realized this, so the last step remained—present evidence to support the deduction!
“The cause of all this is Miss Kirra’s superpower.”
He raised his hand with confidence. Now was the moment of truth.
“She disrupted my powers, so I couldn’t use telekinesis to push her away. That’s indisputable evidence—I’ll show you right now!”
He pointed at the girl in the ultra-short skirt and twin tails, and, with maximum force that wouldn’t cause harm, activated his power!
“Rise!”
Whoosh.
The pink-haired girl floated up.
The wind stirred by telekinesis fluttered her skirt. The gray-haired youth and the martial arts girl instinctively looked up.
From their angle, a dazzling flash of white beneath her skirt caught their eyes.
“Eek!” Kirra blushed and pressed her skirt down. Before the flash of white could be seen by the crowd, the superpower user erected a wall of white matter at lightning speed! He instantly cut off telekinesis and set her down safely and swiftly!
The street idol covered her face, turned away, and muttered softly, “Ugh… pervert…”
The evidence vanished—gone!
The superpower user clutched his head and howled.
“How could this happen?! It shouldn’t!”
Less than three minutes ago, he had tested it himself—the power responded but couldn’t lift her. That wasn’t a false memory, so what was going on now? Could evidence in a briefcase just disappear? He had meant to present a red card but found a black chess piece instead—this would infuriate not just the prosecutor but the judge as well!
The road of logic and deduction was cut off. Judging by the ominous chill emanating from someone, he was about to plunge from the Ice Age into the Inferno.
He had to think—move, brain! Find the third breakthrough!
Just then, Cardecia raised her hand, drawing every gaze to her fingertips.
The superpower user was moved to tears.
You finally found your conscience, woman! Say something—anything!
The blonde woman in a top hat delivered her declaration in crisp, clear tones.
“False testimony!”
The superpower user shrieked, dodging the knife, and charged toward her.
“Cardecia Spencer! I’m taking you down with me!!”
“Xiao Qian, save me~ He wants to silence me~”
Qin Qianbai instantly appeared between the two.
“Qin family secret…”
She put away the blade, stretched out her right arm, fingers together, snake-like.
“Flash Serpent.”
Ah, what sort of move was that? He’d seen her use it before. To the victim, it was like magic. Her arm would vanish from view, then a sharp pain would stab at the side of the head or neck, as if bitten by a snake. After that, darkness would fall, and nothing more could be seen.
Back then, he could never have imagined that being knocked unconscious would someday become the lifeline that saved him. The superpower user fell back with a speed and posture impossible for ordinary people, his face nearly parallel to the pavement, crossing the martial artist’s line of sight as she missed her attack.
“I’m running away!” the superpower user cried righteously, “until you calm down!”
“Try it, Ce—I want to see how far you get.”
The Young Lady shifted her hand into a fist and brought it down mercilessly. Her fist smashed a crater into the concrete, and the superpower user, still flat on his back, shot backwards like a rocket, skimming over the street and soaring into the air!
Qin Qianbai leapt after him, and the blonde in the top hat watched her friends disappear one after another, letting out a cheer.
“That’s what superpower battles look like!” Kirra exclaimed, watching the distant figures. “So cool!”
“Still saying that now—you’re quite the character~ So, what do we do?”
The street idol picked up her guitar, glanced at the brawl receding into the distance, and said, “I want to go find Gongsun Ce.”
Cardecia clasped her hands with a wicked grin.
“Then follow me! I know exactly where those two will end up!”
·
A dozen minutes later.
Central United University, in front of the laboratory building.
Shi Yu Lianyi was stuffing a stack of printed documents into his backpack.
There were unexpectedly many forms required to establish a new club; fortunately, he’d prepared his digital files ahead of time. All he had to do was convince a teacher and get an official stamp.
Cyber Ghost Music Club… Sigh, he hadn’t expected it to attract the interest of those two as well.
He shouldn’t have used that example.
Normally calm, he wondered why he’d slipped up just now. The answer appeared before him without need for thought: Cardecia’s remarks about romance had thrown him off balance.
Romance… Love.
Should he find time to talk to her about it…?
Should he summon the courage…?
Shi Yu Lianyi gazed at the sky. A gray spot grew larger in his vision.
“…?”
That was unmistakably a friend flying through the air, chased by what could only be Qin Qianbai. Gongsun landed on one knee like a superhero from a movie, then in the next instant darted behind him like a schoolboy playing tag.
“…Ah?”
The fierce Qin Qianbai landed immediately after. The superpower user, heedless of the stares from his classmates, crouched behind his friend and wailed.
“Lianyi, save me!”